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South Gloucestershire bin collection days

South Gloucestershire collects food waste and household recycling every week, garden waste every two weeks for subscribers, and general waste in the black bin only once every three weeks. The three-weekly black bin started on 11 May 2026, so the gap between black bin days is longer than most people expect. Recycling is sorted at home into boxes and bags rather than one bin.

Last checked against 9 sources (beta.southglos.gov.uk).

What goes in each bin

Black bin for general waste · General waste

Bin · Every three weeks

Yes please

  • General waste that cannot be recycled at home or at a recycling centre

Not in this one

  • Batteries and vapes
  • Rubble, hardcore or soil
  • Gas canisters
  • Medicines, which go to a pharmacy when expired or unwanted
  • Extra bags left beside the bin

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

White recycling bag for containers · Mixed recycling

Bag · Every week

Yes please

  • Plastic bottles, tubs and trays
  • Tins and cans
  • Cartons (Tetra Paks)
  • Empty aerosols
  • Aluminium foil

Not in this one

  • Black plastic
  • Bioplastic and plastic cutlery
  • Polystyrene

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Blue bags for soft plastics · Mixed recycling

Bag · Every week

Yes please

  • Plastic bags and wrappers such as crisp packets
  • Pouches and sachets
  • Clingfilm
  • Removable film lids

Not in this one

  • Pet food and baby food pouches

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Recycling box 1 for paper and card · Paper and card

Box · Every week

Yes please

  • Card
  • Paper, newspapers and magazines
  • Envelopes, including windowed envelopes

Not in this one

  • Metallic wrapping paper
  • Cards with glitter
  • Shredded paper that is not in its own plastic bag

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Recycling box 2 for glass · Glass

Box · Every week

Yes please

  • Glass bottles and jars with the lids taken off

Not in this one

  • Broken glass
  • Bottle and jar lids, which go in the white recycling bag

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Outdoor food bin and indoor caddy · Food waste

Bin · Every week

Yes please

  • Cooked and uncooked leftovers and peelings
  • Tea bags and coffee grounds
  • Egg shells
  • Pet food
  • Food that has gone off

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Green bin for garden waste (subscription) · Garden waste

Bin · Every two weeks

Yes please

  • Grass cuttings
  • Leaves and weeds
  • Hedge trimmings and plant prunings
  • Twigs and small branches
  • Old or used compost
  • Rabbit and rodent bedding
  • Real Christmas trees under 6ft (about 1.8m)

Not in this one

  • Japanese knotweed or garden waste showing signs of ash dieback
  • Large logs, tree stumps and treated wood from sheds or fences
  • Pet waste other than rabbit and rodent bedding
  • Soil, rubble or hardcore

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Check your bin day

We can’t check South Gloucestershire addresses yet

Live bin day lookups for South Gloucestershire are planned. Until then, South Gloucestershire’s own page will show your collection day.

Find my bin day on beta.southglos.gov.uk(opens in a new tab)

How often each bin is collected

Collection frequency by bin for South Gloucestershire
BinCollected
Black bin for general waste · General wasteEvery three weeks
White recycling bag for containers · Mixed recyclingEvery week
Blue bags for soft plastics · Mixed recyclingEvery week
Recycling box 1 for paper and card · Paper and cardEvery week
Recycling box 2 for glass · GlassEvery week
Outdoor food bin and indoor caddy · Food wasteEvery week
Green bin for garden waste (subscription) · Garden wasteEvery two weeks

Food waste and the national recycling rules

South Gloucestershire collects food waste every week. Food waste goes in the outdoor food bin and is collected every week with the recycling. The council asks households to wrap it in paper or an ordinary bag, or use compostable liners.

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Garden waste

Garden waste is a paid-for service. A garden waste subscription costs £75 per green bin for a year, or £37.50 per bin if you receive certain benefits, as of 3 October 2026. Subscribers get a fortnightly green bin collection. Households that do not subscribe can book a one-off garden waste sack collection, take garden waste to a recycling centre, or compost at home.

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

If your bin was missed

Sign in to your council account and use the online missed collection form, or call 01454 868000, or visit a One Stop Shop. If you live in a flat with communal recycling bins, phone rather than reporting online. Report by midday on the second working day after the scheduled collection. The council aims to be back by midday on the day after your report, and by 5pm on the same day where it can. Leave your bin, bag or box out until it is emptied.

Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Your nearest tip

Good to know in South Gloucestershire

  • The council moved black bin collections from fortnightly to once every three weeks from 11 May 2026. Recycling and food waste stayed weekly and garden waste stayed fortnightly. The council gave carbon, cost and recycling rates as its reasons, and said arrangements for flats are considered case by case.
  • Each household has two recycling boxes, one white recycling bag and blue bags for soft plastics. Box 1 takes paper and card; box 2 takes glass. Small electricals, textiles, batteries and vapes can also go in the boxes, each kept apart in a plastic bag. Anything not on the council's list is not collected.
  • Put bins, boxes and bags out by 7am on collection day. Tie the blue soft-plastic bags with a double knot, keep bin lids closed, and put everything away again soon after the crew has been. Extra waste left next to the black bin is not taken.
  • Collections run on every day of the year including bank holidays, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
  • Families with children under 5 can apply for free fortnightly disposable nappy collections, and people who need to dispose of incontinence products, including ostomy bags, can apply for free fortnightly hygiene waste collections. Both were introduced alongside the three-weekly black bin in May 2026.
  • The Sort It recycling centres are for South Gloucestershire residents and every visit needs a booked time slot, which can be for the same day or up to two weeks ahead. As of 3 October 2026 the council said it could not take fridges and freezers because of a national shortage of disposal capacity. Restricted vehicles such as vans need a permit.
  • Collection dates are not available through the council's checker for flats with communal bins. The council also has an app that shows collection days and can send reminders.

Bin questions in South Gloucestershire

How often is the black bin emptied in South Gloucestershire?

Once every three weeks since 11 May 2026. Recycling and food waste are collected every week, and garden waste every two weeks if you subscribe.

Where should food waste go?

In the outdoor food bin, which is emptied weekly. The council warns that food in the black bin can cause smells and attract pests while you wait three weeks for it to be collected.

Can I report a missed collection if my box was out late?

No. The council does not accept a missed collection report if the waste went out after 7am, was not sorted correctly, the bin lid was open, the date had been rescheduled, or the garden subscription had expired.

Guides that may help

Nearby councils